With 41 seconds remaining in overtime, Cousins and two Mavericks battled for a loose ball in the paint, and Cousins wound up swinging his right arm upwards, contacting Vince Carter in the face with his forearm. Carter fell to the court and Cousins appeared to try to break the momentum by catching him, to no avail. Cousins was initially assessed a flagrant foul 1 on the play but a video review upgraded the call to a flagrant foul 2.

The flagrant foul 2 designation applies to fouls that are deemed both "unnecessary and excessive." All flagrant fouls are reviewed by the NBA league office and are subject to possible discipline including a fine and/or suspension.

Cousins has been suspended a total of three times by the NBA and the Kings this season. He was suspended for two games by the NBA for a post-game confrontation with Spurs television broadcaster Sean Elliott one game in November. He was suspended for one game by the NBA for a low blow on Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo back in December. He was suspended indefinitely by the Kings for an in-game argument with coach Keith Smart but the suspension was officially lifted after one game, although Smart didn't allow him to immediately rejoin the team.

Cousins finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block on nine-for-14 shooting in 39 minutes.

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